Love the guy, but his mom and dad are pretty much evil incarnate. Here are four easy steps for how to handle his frosty folks.

You've met Mr. Right, and everything
is damn near perfect. There's just
one problem: Mama and Papa Right.
Put simply, they don't like you — and
they're not exactly shy about it. "Not
only is it unpleasant for you to have to
spend time with these people, but you
also may worry that their disapproval
could influence your guy's feelings for
you," says therapist Lee Schnebly,
author of Being Happy Being Married.
How do you get along so it's not so
freakin' awkward? We've come up with
a plan to handle those pain-in-the ... er,
we mean, his parents.

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Step 1: Get Where They're Coming From

Come on, how could anyone not love you? Well,
experts say the most likely explanation is fear. "There's
an innate protective instinct to shut out
the 'intruder' who's invading their family,"
says Schnebly.

Also, jealousy could be the issue. "His
mom may feel that she's being replaced,"
says Bree Allinson, Ph.D., author of How
to Deal with Your Mother-in-Law. So
reassure her that she's still number one
by asking her for advice on your guy (like
how to cook his favorite meal).

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Another explanation: In many cases,
parents feel threatened if you come
from a different background. "Your values
and religion may conflict with their
own," says Allinson. "They might worry
that you'll influence their son." Without
sacrificing your beliefs, show that you're
open to learning about theirs, so it's clear
that the two can coexist.

Step 2: Don't Try to Be Best Friends

You don't have to be buddy-buddy with
his folks; you just have to get along. In
fact, if you're too eager to please, it could
come across as fake and ass-kissy. On the
other hand, don't act in awe of them.
Avoid the urge to force a familial relationship;
these people are still essentially
strangers. "Think of them as equals, not
superiors," advises Schnebly. "You'll feel
more at ease and really be yourself."

Step 3: Make It Clear You Care About Him

Parents' main concern is their child's
well-being, so they need reassurance
that you won't break their poor boy's
heart. "They won't want to connect with
you if they think you're not there to
stay," says Leonard Felder, Ph.D., author
of Wake Up or Break Up. Some suggestions:
Hold his hand, kiss his cheek, or
share a story about how he made you
laugh. Once they know your feelings are
authentic, they'll begin to trust you.

Step 4: Last Resort

If after all that, his parents are still being
evil, stand up for yourself. "If you refuse
to be pushed around, they'll show you
the respect that you deserve," says
therapist Susan Forward, Ph.D., author
of Toxic In-Laws. The next time they're
rude, Forward suggests saying, "Look,
I don't ask that you love me, but I'd like
it if we could at least be civil." Lay down
the law now, because if you decide to
marry this guy, the problems are only
going to escalate.

Bonus: How to Wow His 'Rents

These three phrases will help you dazzle his mom and dad....

"I've heard such great things about you!" This surefire line not only butters up his parents but makes your sweetie look good too.

"What was he like as a kid?" Get them chatting about their all-time favorite subject — their son — and they'll be too distracted to notice you nervously biting your nails.

"It was so nice of you to invite me to your home/to dinner." Saying thank you shows that you're a girl with manners and lets them know how honored you are to be included.